+ Full Description

SETTING THE SCENE

Perranuthnoe is a quietly charming coastal village, centred around a sandy beach, medieval church and the much-loved Victoria Inn, all set within a conservation area and AONB. The village has a very friendly and lively full time community with the Church Room right beside Penlayree hosting music, arts and crafts and drop in coffee mornings. The village has two excellent cafes and welcomes a humming surfing crowd when conditions are right. Trevelyan farm shop located just up from the village has a brilliantly selected range of quality organic produce, meats and dried goods.

With wide ocean views and direct access to the coast path stretching between Marazion and Prussia Cove, Perranuthnoe remains one of Cornwall’s more quietly special corners. The shoreline is increasingly popular for kayaking, paddle boarding and kite surfing, with seals often seen basking on the rocks below Cudden Point.

To the west lies Marazion, known for its views across to St Michael’s Mount, along with galleries, cafés and two sandy beaches. Penzance, around five miles away, is home to a thriving community of independent shops and restaurants a selection of schools and direct rail links to London Paddington.

Nearby Newlyn remains one of the UK’s most active fishing ports and is home to a burgeoning creative crowd with its own Film House, while Porthleven, a little further along the coast, has become a noted destination for its food scene.

HISTORY

Penlayree dates from the late 18th century and is believed to have originally served as the Chapel House and Old School House, reflecting its close connection to the neighbouring church.

Its presence on the site can be traced back earlier still, and over time the house has evolved through light, considered alterations. Early 20th century additions introduced greater light to the principal rooms, while more recent renovation works by the current custodians, including the addition of a striking kitchen orangery, have been carried out with sensitivity to the building’s character, whilst adding a hint of luxury. Despite these changes, Penlayree remains remarkably intact, retaining a strong sense of its history and original form.

Its long-standing role within the village, both as a place of education and worship, lends it a particular significance, recognised in its Grade II listing alongside its historic outbuilding. Dating from the 19th century, this former stable, dairy and wash house remains largely untouched, offering a tangible link to the property’s working past.

THE TOUR

Penlayree is a home of rare atmosphere, where layered history and thoughtful design delight at every turn and unfold with quiet ease. Set within a magnificent walled garden, this remarkable period home, once the Old Chapel House and School House, dates back to 1780. With soft glimpses of the sea and views across the church, village, and surrounding countryside, the setting feels almost island-like in its stillness, as though gently removed from the passage of time.

The handsome double-fronted house unfolds over three floors, its symmetry and proportions immediately setting a tone of understated elegance. A grand entrance hall laid with Victorian tessellated tiles leads to a broad central staircase, flanked by two beautifully balanced reception rooms, while a characterful scullery, porch and boot room add a sense everyday ease. At one end, a beautifully crafted kitchen orangery by Vale Garden Houses offers a light-filled space for gathering and a natural connection to the garden beyond.

Upstairs, four generous, dual-aspect bedrooms and a family bathroom are arranged across the first floor, each filled with shifting natural light and finished in soft, characterful palettes. A secondary staircase, with an original Victorian window at its half landing, leads to the upper floor, where a remarkable principal suite unfolds beneath the eaves, spanning the width of the house.

Throughout, original features have been carefully preserved and celebrated, enhanced by thoughtful additions and renovations. A nuanced use of colour gives each room its own character, creating interiors that feel beautifully curated yet timeless, with spaces that are warmly inviting and rich in understated detail.

STEP OUTSIDE

Wonderfully tranquil and private walled grounds envelope the house, creating a rare sense of seclusion. Sunny and sheltered, they form their own microclimate with an almost Mediterranean feel, where stretches of lawn invite long summer afternoons and borders are filled with an exceptional mix of shrubs, plants and trees. To the front, an attractive parterre echoes the symmetry and quiet grandeur of the house. To the side, a small courtyard hosts a wonderfully characterful outbuilding, a former stable, washroom and dairy, retaining original features including an old slate cream-making vat, with excellent potential for workshops or ancillary use.

A gated parking area provides ample parking, while a pedestrian gate at the foot of the garden leads directly to the village centre and nearby beach. Once within the grounds, there is a distinct sense of stillness that feels quietly removed from the outside world, with charming spots to sit and enjoy the sun against the backdrop of the house, garden and church.

SERVICES 

Mains water and electricity, mains drainage and oil fired central heating.

Please be aware we cannot confirm that all these services comply with current regulations

DISTANCES (all distances approximate)

Beach 500 yards, Marazion 2 miles, Penzance Station 5 miles, Porthleven 7.5 miles; St Ives 10 miles, Truro 25 miles, Cornwall Airport (Newquay) 40 miles

WHAT3WORDS LOCATION

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